Korean War vets honor those lost on 60th anniversary of armistice

Five members of the Richard D. Hutchison Kent County Chapter of the Korean War Veterans of America paid tribute July 27 to soldiers killed in battle during the 1950-1953 conflict.

Jeff Brownjeff.brown@doverpost.com@DoPoJeff

Five members of the Richard D. Hutchison Kent County Chapter of the Korean War Veterans of America paid tribute to soldiers killed in battle during the 1950-1953 conflict.
The men, all veterans of the Korean War, visited Barratt’s Chapel Cemetery, Frederica, and Lakeside Cemetery, Dover, July 27, the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended active fighting in 1953.
Those present included chapter Commander Joe Liston, Sam Booth, Dr. Daniel Coons, William Ralph, and Jim Schafer.
Delaware lost 45 soldiers in the three-year conflict. Several of those remain missing in action and are presumed dead.
The county’s casualties included:
- Pvt. Jerry C. Bleen -- killed Sept. 1, 1951, when he drowned in an unmarked well in Pusan, Korea.
- Cpl. Paul L. Brittingham -- wounded Sept. 22, 1950, returned to duty on Jan. 2, 1951, and killed March 15, 1951. He had lost a brother, Orville, in World War II, and another brother, Granville, during a shooting incident in June 1950.
- Pvt. Clifton Elmer Brooks -- taken prisoner in North Korea on Nov. 28, 1950 and died in captivity July 7, 1951. His remains have not been recovered.
- Pfc. William James Clark -- killed in action Oct. 3, 1951; was originally from Smyrna.
- Cpl. Kenneth Flamer – killed in action in North Korea on Oct. 28, 1952; his family was from the Harrington area.
- Pfc. John Milbourne Godwin -- killed Sept. 16, 1950, the same day he mailed his last letter home.
- Pfc. Paul LeRoy Hitch – killed Sept. 2, 1951; his family originally was from Middletown.
- Pfc. Richard D. Hutchinson – killed Nov. 28, 1950; his remains have not been recovered.
- Cpl. Timothy Edward Kimball – killed April 17, 1950; he was originally from the Felton area.
- Pfc. Howard J. Morgan – killed Aug. 26, 1950; his family lived on NE 4th Street, Milford.
- Capt. Henry S. Morton – killed Oct. 28, 1950; he was a poultry worker before joining the Army; his wife, Mary, survived him by 59 years.
- Pfc. James Philip Pernell – taken prisoner by enemy forces Feb. 14, 1951; believed to have died in captivity. His remains have not been recovered.
The KWVA includes in the above the name of John B. Jester Jr., who was killed in 1956, after the end of active hostilities.